Conflict in the Middle East

1. Conflict in the Middle East

2. Why Do They Hate Us?Historical Issues Leading To Conflicts In Middle East • Golden Age • Advanced Culture • Preserved Ancient Greek Accomplishments • Renaissance • Individualism, Humanism, & Liberal Arts introduced to world culture & now permeates Western culture • Western culture is now the dominate world culture so is acculturated with nations that globalize • Islamic Fundamentalists fear the effect of this Westernization on their culture & religion • WWI • Ottoman’s lose • Middle Eastern Borders Drawn • Nations Controlled by “Mandates” • West controls Nations & Resources • Partition & Arab/Israeli Wars • After WWII Palestine divided between Palestinians & Israelis • Arab world is enraged that the West would give land from an Arab nation to a population of immigrants • Arab world humiliated time and again by losing to the Israelis • West has supported Israel • Arab Nationalism and the Growth of Terrorism • In response to Western Imperialism young Arab’s band together to “fight” their oppressors (the West) • They want Arabs to control their own nations and resources • Al Qaeda is created to support multiple terrorist organization • Supplies military leadership training, equipment and capital

3. Why Do They Hate Us?Historical Issues Leading To Conflicts In Middle East • 9/11 & Enduring Freedom • Al Qaeda successful terrorist attack on American soil • Since they won’t hand over Osama Bin Laden, we attack Afghanistan & replace the Islamist government of the Taliban with a democracy • Killed Bin Laden in May 2011. Our efforts in Afghanistan are now more about keeping the Taliban out of power than chasing Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda headquarters have moved to Yemen. • Iraq Wars • Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom • About containing Saddam Hussein and militarily replacing his dictatorship with a democracy • All troops pulled out in December 2011. • Iran • Have had conflicts with Iran ever since we supplied weapons to Israel in the 6 Day and Yom Kippur Wars • We allied with the losing side in the Iranian revolution • After the Cold War the UN said no nations could obtain nuclear power that doesn’t already have it. Iran did not have nuclear power and thinks it is unfair. Their enemy (Israel) has nuclear power, so they want to develop nuclear power also • Democratic Revolutions • Have erupted across the Middle East : for example in Egypt, Libya, and Syria • Saudi Arabia • A close ally but also a somewhat Islamist government that does not protect the natural rights of its citizens • Many in the Middle East see us as hypocritical when we support them but supposedly are fighting in Iraq to protect human rights.

4. American Policy must address issues … • Regarding Regional Security • What should we do in relation to Middle Eastern Nations fighting each other and having civil wars? • Regarding the Arab/Israeli Conflict • Regarding Islamist governments • Regarding our dependence on the Middle East for oil Four different options are summarized on the next 4 slides

5. Spread Democracy w/ Military Policies to…… • What should we do in relation to Middle Eastern Nations fighting each other and having civil wars? (Regional Security) • Send troops and weapons to democratic people/nations who are being oppressed by non-democratic ones. • What should we do in relation to the Arab/Israeli Conflict? • Send troops & weapons to support Israel • What should we do in relation to Islamist governments? • Send in troops to take them out and set up democratic governments • What should we do in relation to our dependence on the Middle East for oil? • Use the military to force oil producing nations to be democratic so we can have friendly relations and buy their oil.

6. Spread Democracy w/Diplomacy Policies to…… • What should we do in relation to Middle Eastern Nations fighting each other and having civil wars? (Regional Security) • Send financial aid, food, housing, educational support, and business to the more democratic side. • What should we do in relation to the Arab/Israeli Conflict? • Send financial aid, food, housing, educational support, and business to Israel and increase it if they are kinder to the Palestinians living there. • What should we do in relation to Islamist governments? • Take away all ties with them. Do not send financial aid and do not allow our people to do business with them. • What should we do in relation to our dependence on the Middle East for oil? • Sacrifice cheap oil so our policies are more consistent with our values. Don’t buy oil from non-democratic nations. • Develop alternative sources of energy and drill in the USA.

7. Protect our Economy Policies to…… • What should we do in relation to Middle Eastern Nations fighting each other and having civil wars? (Regional Security) • Support the side that offers us the most and cheapest oil • If the people in conflict do not have oil, let them work it out themselves. • What should we do in relation to the Arab/Israeli Conflict? • Support the Palestinians so we can keep their oil producing friends happy. • What should we do in relation to Islamist governments? • Let them rule their countries their own way. It’s not our place to challenge their culture and way of life. • What should we do in relation to our dependence on the Middle East for oil? • Strengthen our relations with the oil producing nations and change the policies that are offensive to them so we can get the oil cheaper

8. Get the Heck outta There Policies to…… • What should we do in relation to Middle Eastern Nations fighting each other and having civil wars? (Regional Security) • Nothing. It is their fight. Let them resolve it. • What should we do in relation to the Arab/Israeli Conflict? • Nothing it is their fight. Let them resolve it. • What should we do in relation to Islamist governments? • Let them rule their countries their own way. It’s not our place to challenge their culture and way of life. • What should we do in relation to our dependence on the Middle East for oil? • Break the dependence by drilling in the US (even though it will be more expensive) and developing alternative sources of energy.

9. Evidence to support policies? • Factors leading to the rise and fall of nations and examples of nations that rose and fell for those reasons? • Lessons from the emergence of individualism and democracy from the Renaissance and Enlightenment? • Apply the premise of connectivity to your policy?